Greg, Did you contact Pianotek about the formula? I'm curious now, given your recent experience. Alan > From: Greg Granoff <gjg2 at humboldt.edu> > Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org> > Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:14:27 -0800 > To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org> > Subject: Re: [CAUT] hammer softener > > Thanks Alan, > I share your sentiments mostly about this procedure. I too am long time > user of needles and elbow grease, and have also had only mixed results with > steam (though when it works, it *does* work--I'll give it that). But > recently I had a Hamilton vertical in the shop that had gone so bright and > hard despite only minor hammer wear and fairly agressive voicing in the past > that it made my ears bleed. I happened upon a jar of unused Pianotek hammer > softener I'd forgotten was around, and thought "why not?" I put it on > carefully in a thin layer at the 11 and 1 position of the shoulders, > allowing it to soak up just under the crown, and got excellent results. I > don't know how long this will last under fire, but it was so easy I couldn't > believe it. Despite being needled, the hammers didn't open up, though I > have seen that unpleasant effect from steaming. I figure I might need to do > this again, hence the questions about formulas. > > Greg > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alan McCoy" <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu> > To: <caut at ptg.org> > Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 10:47 AM > Subject: Re: [CAUT] hammer softener > > >> Hi Greg, >> >> I've used straight isopropyl with mixed results. Also used different mixes >> of methanol and water. Had one Walter piano where the methanol/water >> solution simply did not penetrate at all. Rolled off the hammer felt like >> water off a duck. I've also used steam also with mixed results. If these >> hammers have been previously needled, watch out. Water (liquid or hot > vapor) >> can induce in the technician full-scale, sweaty panic as the hammer opens >> up. Not a swell feeling, I can tell you. (Grin, only in hindsight) >> >> These days I only use needles and lots and lots of elbow grease. I charge >> for it. I just don't feel like I have control over the alcohol/water or >> steam. >> >> Alan >> >> >> -- Alan McCoy, RPT >> Eastern Washington University >> amccoy at mail.ewu.edu >> 509-359-4627 >> >> >>> From: Greg Granoff <gjg2 at humboldt.edu> >>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" > <caut at ptg.org> >>> Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:36:16 -0800 >>> To: CAUT <caut at ptg.org> >>> Subject: [CAUT] hammer softener >>> >>> Well, after Alan's post about archive searches, I almost made my subject > line >>> "OK, Brainiacs...." but though better of it. >>> My question: anyone know what exactly is in the hammer softening liquid > sold >>> by Pianotek, for example? Anyone have their own favorite homemade > formula? >>> >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Greg >>> >>> Gregory J. Granoff >>> Staff Piano Technician >>> HSU >> >> > >
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